The real controversy yesterday wasn't that he said that's a move he'd try to do if he was the Oiler's GM.

It was that he said it would actually be a feasible move for Edmonton, i.e. something that Montreal might go along with. This is in contrast to how most in Montreal take that deal as a complete non-starter they'd have no interest in.

This lead to the implication that McGuire believed either that:
1. It was the starting point for a fair deal for Montreal that a reasonable management team would accept.

or

2. Its a bad deal for Montreal but they are dumb enough to do it.

Neither reflects well on McGuire.

But people should listen to what he actually said and form their opinions on that rather than rely on hearsay. Taking words out of context and twisting them to fit agenda's seems to be half the stupid media firestorms that surrounding this club.